Gerraint’s blog July 2021

Due to the summer holidays, July was a quiet month. However, this has given me time to prepare for the exciting months ahead as well as giving me time to enjoy a summer holiday break myself.  

 

One event I attended this month was an employment event called Be Bold Be Brave hosted by Growing Space. The event showed the barriers there are to employment for people with learning disabilities and autism. The event was chaired by Growing Space’s Gwent Ambassadors who did a fantastic job at running the event. The ambassadors spoke about their own experience with work and their experience of being an Ambassador for Growing Space. I was also asked to present my experiences of work and barriers faced by people with autism and people with learning disabilities. I also spoke about the Engage to Change project and what I do as the Lead Ambassador for the project. It was great to take part and to listen to everyone’s experiences and to share my own.  

 

The theme for my fun hour in July was Drag! I chose the theme to celebrate international drag day which was on the 16th of July. As well as the Drag Fun hour, I also did a drag theme quiz for my colleagues at LDW. Lots of people joined in and I am looking forward to hosting more quizzes for the team in the future. Next month’s Fun Hour will be on the 18th August will be summer holiday-themed. For further details, you can contact me via email at gerraint.jones-griffiths@ldw.org.uk for more information. 

 

I am pleased to introduce a new spotlight feature to my blog. Each month I will be spotlighting a different organisation and telling you about their work. 

Spotlight on Growing Space 

 

Who are Growing Space?   

Growing Space is a registered mental health charity founded in 1992 which operates across Gwent, Cardiff and The Vale. 

 

Who do they help?  

Growing Space provides a network of support for adults with mental ill-health, autism or a learning disability. 

 

How do they help?   

Growing Space helps to develop the skills and knowledge of their participants, whether that be personal development, vocational or employability. Their accredited and non-accredited opportunities include a range of experiences and opportunities in areas such as Creative Arts, Information technology and employment skills.  

 

Growing Space helps make a difference in getting people back into society, reducing social isolation and loneliness, and combating the stigma associated with mental ill-health, autism or a learning disability by concentrating upon each person’s ability and not inability. 

 

How can people get in touch with them?  

You can call Growing Space on 01633 810718 or contact them via email at  info@growingspace.org.uk or visit their website at Training Mental Health Charity | Growingspace